About me

From the AVM SURVIVORS web site: "Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects of the circulatory system that are generally believed to arise during embryonic or fetal development or soon after birth. Although AVMs can develop in many different sites, those located in the brain or spinal cord can have especially widespread effects on the body".
I am currently undergoing embolizations with Dr. Wayne Yakes @ the Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO every 8 weeks! Our lives are either planning a procedure, having a procedure or recovering from a procedure! The trick lately seems to be to keep the "bleeds" under control! My husband Mark is also my caregiver! He has become an expert wound care therapist, not to mention all around bundle of being just exactly what I need to get through the day and this ordeal we call an AVM! I recently finished 10 years of Embolizations w/Dr. Yakes and am finally ready for my next stage - Debulking and reconstructive surgery w/Dr. Robinson in CO - he is a dentist and plastic surgeon! Best advice to an avm patient - Stay positive and surround yourself with supportive people! Lots of faith, prayer and love are all crucial too!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Hi again! Just thought I would post some extra photos from our recent Bringing Bella Home trip! Bella has no fear - she immediately went to say hi to Patty's dogs and to her big brother Hanz! Notice she has the dark fur on her back - that is still some of her baby coat that was hand stripped later by Mark! From what I understand, she is a Belge color, as is Hanz. Brussels come in black, black and tan, red and belge! The latter I believe is like brown and tan, like our kids! We had also recently heard about hand stripping a Brussels coat, to retain the wiry rough coat! They can be clipped, but the fur then will be lighter and softer!

In the one photo, Bella was playing with the tail of Patty's largest dog! No fear on Bellas part! She dives off the end of our king size bed chasing Hanz down the hall! Bella will finish her puppy food and run over to Hanz's dish and start on his! What a moose! She's got sharp little teeth that she fastened on to Marks little toe as it hung off the end of the bed - Bella made a jump for it and hung on Marks toe for a second! We've changed her name to JAWS! No, just kidding! I'm just amazed @ how she is keeping up with big brother Hanz! She's a tough one, but Mommy will make sure she's a girlie girl too! Gotta go! I hear Mark getting after Bella about something! Ciao!

Cyndi

Ok, just because - one more time - here is Bella and Hanz's Christmas photo with Santa Claus @ Petsmart in Sugarland!